Operations

N.M. County Fleet Employee Arrested for Embezzlement

August 3, 2015
• by Staff

File photo.

The Santa Fe County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office has arrested Chris Ruybal, Santa Fe County Public Works Department fleet service manager, on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement, the office announced.

Sheriff’s investigators first heard about the case through a tip regarding possible county property being advertised for sale on Facebook, said Lt. Diego Lucero, Sheriff’s CID commander.

"Two separate postings on Facebook listed two sets of brand new tires for sale at a very low price," said Lt. Lucero. "The individual making the posting identified himself as a Santa Fe County employee and this raised the suspicion of the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office employee who called us about their misgivings."

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s detectives located the Facebook page, researched the postings, and contacted the person using the Facebook profile “Ruybal Chris N Amy.” Detectives called the phone number listed and arranged to purchase the tires from the suspect's wife for $900. The market value of the tires is about $1,242.

On July 31, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s detectives contacted Chris Ruybal at the Santa Fe County Public Works department. Ruybal was interviewed by detectives at the sheriff’s office, where he eventually confessed to stealing the tires from the county and selling the stolen merchandise, the Sheriff's Office release stated.

Ruybal was placed under arrest and booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center for the crimes of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement.

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